the due ruling of his realm.

But King Lyngi and his brethren gather an army together to fall
on Sigmund, for as in all matters they were wont to have the
worser lot, so did this bite the sorest of all; and they would
fain prevail over the might and pride of the Volsungs. So they
came to Hunland, and sent King Sigmund word how that they would
not steal upon him and that they deemed he would scarce slink
away from them. So Sigmund said he would come and meet them in
battle, and drew his power together; but Hjordis was borne into
the wood with a certain bondmaid, and mighty wealth went with
them; and there she abode the while they fought.

Now the vikings rushed from their ships in numbers not to be
borne up against, but Sigmund the King, and Eylimi set up their
banners, and the horns blew up to battle; but King Sigmund let
blow the horn his father erst had had, and cheered on his men to
the fight, but his army was far the fewest.

Now was that battle fierce and fell, and though Sigmund were old,
yet most hardily he fought, and was ever the foremost of his men;
no shield or byrny might hold against him, and he went ever
through the ranks of his foemen on that day, and no man might see
how things would fare between them; many an arrow and many a
spear was aloft in air that day, and so his spae-wrights wrought
for him that he got no wound, and none can tell over the tale of
those who fell before him, and both his arms were red with blood,
even to the shoulders.

But now whenas the battle had dured a while, there came a man